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LGHL Sleepers of the Room: Plenty of Ohio State defensive linemen are ready for their shot

Sleepers of the Room: Plenty of Ohio State defensive linemen are ready for their shot
Brett Ludwiczak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Kevin French/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ohio State will be replacing three starters on their defensive line this year, which should give a number of Buckeyes a chance to make a name for themselves in 2020.

Over the last decade, it has been hard to find many better defensive lines around the country than what Ohio State has produced. Since 2010, Ohio State has seen 16 defensive lineman picked in the NFL Draft, with half of those drafted coming in the past three seasons.

The Buckeyes have dominated the second pick in the NFL Draft the last two years, with Nick Bosa being taken by the San Francisco 49ers in 2019, and Chase Young taken by the Washington Football Team in 2020. Prior to those two getting taken with the second pick, Joey Bosa was taken with the third pick in 2016.

With Chase Young having moved on to the professional level, there isn’t much question about who is looking like the next star of the defensive line. Zach Harrison is only heading into his sophomore season, but the sky looks like the limit for the central Ohio product. Along with Harrison, Ohio State will lean on veteran Jonathon Cooper, who returns as a fifth-year season after taking a redshirt last season because of injury.

Defensive end Tyreke Smith and defensive tackle Haskell Garrett figure to play huge roles in 2020 for Ohio State, but who are some sleepers who could make a name for themselves? There are a few guys who got their feet wet last year, along with one promising defensive tackle who missed last season due to injury.

Defensive end

Tyler Friday


Friday appeared in 11 games for Ohio State last year as a sophomore, recording 11 tackles and two sacks. His best game came early in the year when he was credited with two tackles for loss, with one of those being a sack against Indiana. The other sack that Friday recorded came in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson.

Coming out of high school in New Jersey, Friday was a four-star defensive end and a top-100 prospect. Friday played his high school football at Don Bosco Prep, which is one of the most prestigious high school football programs in the country, so the edge rusher was already used to playing for a marquee football team.

Even though Harrison, Cooper, and Smith figure to see the majority of snaps at defensive end, expect Friday to see time on the field because of the frequency the Buckeyes rotate defensive ends. This will likely benefit Friday, as he’ll be fresher than the offensive linemen he’ll be going up against. While Friday’s playing time won’t likely be at the level of a starter, he’ll make sure he makes the snaps he is on the field for count.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste


Another Buckeye defensive end to keep an eye on is also from New Jersey. After redshirting in 2018, Javontae Jean-Baptiste played in 14 games in 2019. Like Friday, Jean-Baptiste also was a four-star prospect coming out of high school. The similarities don’t stop there, as he too recorded two sacks in 2019.

Jean-Baptiste came to Ohio State as a 215-pound linebacker, but now is a 250-pound defensive end. The scary thing is that he is still learning and becoming more comfortable at his new position. This year we should see even more out of Jean-Baptiste at defensive end, and he could set up a fun final couple years as an upperclassman in Columbus.

Defensive tackle

Tommy Togiai


It’s probably hard to be much of a “sleeper” when you are the size of a defensive tackle, but the Buckeyes have a few who could explode in 2020. The first DT to keep an eye on is Tommy Togiai. The junior made history before even stepping on the field for the Buckeyes, becoming the first player from Idaho to sign with Ohio State. Togiai was the third-ranked defensive tackle and the 55th overall player in the class of 2017.

Entering his junior season, Togiai has played in 26 games in Ohio State, so he’ll be leaned on heavily this year to fill the void left by the graduation of two fifth-year seniors. Last year, Togiai recorded 16 tackles, with two of those tackles being for loss. In combination with Haskell Garrett, Togiai is a prime candidate to break out this season, as the two should form a strong interior of the Ohio State defensive line.

Taron Vincent


The defensive lineman who could be the biggest sleeper this year is Taron Vincent. The son of former NFL defensive back Troy Vincent came to Ohio State as a five-star recruit and the top-ranked defensive tackle in the country according to 247Sports. Vincent won the Maxwell Club’s first-ever defensive player of the year award in 2017 as a senior in high school.

After appearing in 10 games as a true freshman in 2018, Vincent missed the 2019 season because of a shoulder injury. While the defensive tackle was ready to play through the pain as a sophomore, the training staff thought it was best that Vincent not play until he was fully recovered from the injury.

With guys like Garrett and Togiai also at defensive tackle, the coaching staff can ease Vincent back into the fold, but once Vincent gets out onto the field, expect to see why he was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. He has all the tools to become one of the best defensive tackles in college football, the redshirt sophomore just needs to see some snaps and stay healthy.

Antwuan Jackson


Much like Vincent, Jackson was one of the most sought-after defensive tackles coming out of high school. Jackson was the 49th overall prospect in the class of 2016, originally committing to Auburn, redshirting with the Tigers before eventually transferring to Blinn Junior College.

In 10 games at Blinn, Jackson recorded 70 tackles, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles. What he showed on the field earned him the Southwest Junior College Football Conference Most Valuable Player Award, as well as the attention of Ohio State, who were able to bring Jackson in as a transfer in 2018.

After appearing in four games with the Buckeyes in 2018, Jackson earned himself a spot in the defensive tackle rotation, playing in all 14 games last season. His best performance came against Rutgers, when he was credited with four tackles. For the season, Jackson finished with 13 stops, 3.5 of which were for a loss.

Since he already was being used in the defensive tackle rotation last season, expect to see even more of the senior this year. Jackson could team with Haskell Garrett to provide some veteran leadership to a group that just lost two seniors.

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LGHL Buckeye Bits: Ohio State announces captains, still no B1G schedule, Rutgers gonna rutger

Buckeye Bits: Ohio State announces captains, still no B1G schedule, Rutgers gonna rutger
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Welcome to Buckeye Bits, our daily news roundup of all things Ohio State. We got a whole bunch of news today thanks to a teleconference, but the news that a formerly legacy brand promised did not come. So, let’s get into the news that we do have, as — believe it or not — the Ohio State Buckeyes are still planning on beginning fall camp in just two and a half days.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...


Ohio State virtually visits with four-star small forward

Dan Hessler, LGHL

Do we need to start changing the hashtag that we use when the Buckeyes get a commitment from #BOOM to #ZOOM?

Sleepers of the Room: Ohio State’s wide receiver room is even deeper than you think

Gene Ross, LGHL

There are so many talented dudes in this room, it’s tough to call any of them sleepers. I mean, I’ve been driving the Demario McCall train for four years; Kamryn Babb was a four-star, top-75 prospect; and Jameson Williams is fast enough to win the Kentucky Derby on his own.

Brian Hartline has done an incredibly good job amassing perhaps the most talented wide receiver room in the country. Sleepers or not, there’s plenty of guys who can have a huge impact.

Who had a better first three years, Thad Matta or Chris Holtmann?

Connor Lemons, LGHL

I mean, the answer is clearly Thad Matta, but that shouldn’t diminish the job that Chris Holtmann has done.

From around the gridiron...


Ohio State football’s Justin Fields, Shaun Wade say they have not considered opting out of 2020 season

Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

On Tuesday, Ryan Day and the seven new Ohio State Buckeyes football captains chatted with media on a teleconference. We have some of the bigger individual stories listed below, but I wanted to run through some of the key points here to lead things off.

- Justin Fields said that while he understood why some players are opting out of playing this fall, he hasn’t really considered it. He said that he comes from a financially stable situation, and his parents have encouraged him to do what he thinks is best.

- He said that his goals for the upcoming season are simple, “I want to show everybody that I’m the best quarterback in the nation. Of course, I want to win a Heisman Trophy and all that,” he said. “[but] if none of that happens, I’m fine with a national championship trophy sitting in the front of the Woody.”

- Fields also said that there has been some discussion amongst players in the Big Ten about creating a group similar to what Pac-12 players have done, but the discussions have not progressed beyond basics.

- Both Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers said that they felt comfortable with Ohio State and the B1G’s testing and safety policies. Justin Hilliard said that the coaches have been transparent in what they know about — and how they are planning for — the season.

- Hilliard also said that it is incumbent on the captains to keep the team focused as camp and the season begins, and they aren’t able to return to normal life.

- Shaun Wade said that he has no regrets in choosing to come back to school, despite the unusual situation.

Justin Fields might never play another game for the Scarlet and Gray, but he sure knows how to endear himself to the fans.


KING pic.twitter.com/6d3r5U0MXZ

— Eleven Warriors (@11w) August 4, 2020

C.J. Saunders denied sixth year, will join Buckeyes coaching staff

Jeremy Birmingham, Lettermen Row

With this news, the Buckeyes are now officially at their 85 scholarship limit, meaning that their roster is set for the fall (season pending, of course). The fact that the NCAA denied C.J. Saunders’ sixth year of eligibility is another one of those situations where it doesn’t seem like there is any consistency in their rulings. I don’t think that the would-be sixth-year senior would have contributed significantly to the team’s output on the field this season, but his story is an impressive one, and hopefully he will continue to have an impact on the squad as member of the staff.

With the former walk-on no longer a member of the team, that means that he will not be a two-time OSU captain, however, there are a pair of returning captains to the 2020 group. Linebacker Tuf Borland joins former quarterback J.T. Barrett in becoming the program’s only three-time captains; Jonathon Cooper was also selected by his teammates for the second-straight year. Congrats to all seven of the players on this important honor.


The captains of the 2020 Ohio State Buckeyes football program.@wyattdavis53@Tuf_Borland@WadeShaun2017@JHilliard47@justnfields@JonathonCooper7@josh_myers71#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/ZvSDvThZdc

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 4, 2020

I’ve always been a sentimental crier, and this one got me good.


.@JHilliard47 has been through a lot.

The moment he got to call his dad to tell him he’d been voted captain made it all worth it.#GoBuckeyes #H2 pic.twitter.com/WyRXRpdDoC

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 4, 2020

Jim Harbaugh’s Weird Insistence on Wearing Cleats Inside Cost Michigan a Five-Star Commitment

Kevin Harrish, Eleven Warriors

I just... I don’t... I mean... what? Why? Who even... ? <sigh> Never stop being you, Jimmy.

That’s a whole lot of shrugging money.


This is really cool ... Chargers DE Joey Bosa gets emotional as his five-year, $135 million is pushed over the goal line. pic.twitter.com/vtxbat3csw

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 4, 2020

Rutgers coronavirus outbreak nearly doubles after entire program put into quarantine

Ryan Young, Yahoo Sports

On Monday, the once venerable, now laughingstock, tech-bro shell of its former self publication Sports Illustrated reported that the Big Ten would be releasing their modified schedule on Tuesday morning. Well, that clearly did not happen. I have to wonder if that had anything to do with the Scarlet Knights pulling a Rutgers. Perhaps the B-One-G is looking into options to relegate Greg Schiano’s squad (cool new/old unis and all) back to the Big East.

I’m going to let this perfect meme — created by our co-managing editor Gene Ross — speak for itself.


pic.twitter.com/zMij3aw0O2

— Gene Ross (@Gene_Ross23) August 4, 2020
From around the hardwood...


College basketball rankings: Gonzaga holds off Baylor for top spot in preseason Top 25 And 1

Gary Parrish, CBSSports

Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes come in at No. 17 here. Parrish highlights the fact that Seth Towns chose to return home to Columbus, instead of heading to Durham, along with the returns of Duane Washington Jr., C.J. Walker, and Kyle Young as reasons to be high on the new-look Buckeyes whenever they get back to the court.

They are joined in the CBS rankings by Big Ten brethren No. 5 Iowa, No. 6 Illinois, No. 10 Wisconsin, No. 11 Michigan State, No. 21 Rutgers, and No. 23 Indiana.

I’m sorry, I’m just going to need a minute. Our rosy-cheeked baby boy is finally starting medical school. I’m just so proud of him.


The new chapter has begun! Excited, a little nervous, and extremely grateful to start a journey I’ve thought about for so long. I’ve always liked our home white jerseys! #OSUCOM pic.twitter.com/164ktGvHNq

— Aaron Craft (@ACraft4) August 4, 2020
From everywhere else...


Welp, looks like you’re gonna need to make new plans for Aug. 23.


BREAKING: Roger Penske has reversed course and decided not to allow fans at the #Indy500 later this month. @IMS https://t.co/kRUnfmrNHN

— WTHR.com (@WTHRcom) August 4, 2020

You know, if students are going to be required to wear masks at school, perhaps it’s not safe for them to return to school at all.


Coronavirus: All Ohio students will be required by a state health order to wear face masks as school resumes, but fall sports are still up in the airhttps://t.co/bSZZnXc1S0

— Darrel Rowland (@darreldrowland) August 4, 2020
And now for something completely different...


Obviously not ideal for the House of Mouse, but I think this is a smart move.


#Mulan will be available for streaming on Disney Plus on Sept. 4 for a price of $29.99 https://t.co/WD5ZfLFisP pic.twitter.com/HG8dAxgcTj

— Variety (@Variety) August 4, 2020

It’s much easier to do a rental/streaming release for a stand-alone movie than it is to do it for something like “Black Widow,” which is part of an expansive cinematic universe. Between cross-promotion, the scheduling between inter-connected projects on screens large and small, and much more means that it would have a longer lasting impact for Disney to release an MCU film this way, than the stand-alone “Mulan.”

However, if this goes well, I am sure that the Bobs could change their mind and start scheduling Disney+ premium tier releases at the drop of a hat.

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LGHL Who had a better first three years, Thad Matta or Chris Holtmann?

Who had a better first three years, Thad Matta or Chris Holtmann?
Connor Lemons
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Holtmann made Ohio State basketball relevant again immediately upon arrival. But how do his first three seasons stack up to the GOAT?

Chris Holtmann now has three seasons under his belt as the head coach of the Ohio State men’s basketball program. By all accounts, his first three years have been successful, if not a little surprising, too.

While the cupboard was by no means bare when he arrived, (Jae’Sean Tate, Kaleb Wesson, Keita Bates-Diop, etc.), the Buckeyes had not made the NCAA Tournament in two seasons, and the general outlook of the program was trending downward.

Having been hired mid-summer, Holtmann was not given much time to recruit a class of incoming freshman. Still, he was able to hang on to Wesson, persuade Kyle Young to follow him to Ohio State after originally committing to play for him at Butler, and get a commitment from Musa Jallow, who also reclassified to 2017 so he could play for the Buckeyes that fall.

Since Holtmann took over, Ohio State has not missed an NCAA Tournament. At the same time, they’ve been unable to win more than one game in either of those tournament appearances. Recruiting has been hot, but the program has also seen six players transfer out of the program for one reason or another.

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Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Today, we take a look at Chris Holtmann’s body of work from his first three seasons and compare it to his predecessor, Thad Matta. While Matta is undoubtedly the greatest coach in Ohio State history and one of the best in Big Ten history, his first season (2004-2005) wasn’t stellar, and the Buckeyes were ineligible for the NCAA Tournament due to a self-imposed one-year ban. This self-imposed ban stemmed from the actions of Matta’s predecessor, Jim O’Brien, who paid a recruit $6,000 in 1999 to attend Ohio State (the recruit did not end up playing in a single game for Ohio State).

We’ll look at each of the coaches records, including their record in-conference and in the tournament. We’ll also look take a look at recruiting, because pulling in high quality players is the fastest way to take a good program and make it great, or a great program and make it elite.

Records


Overall record in first three seasons:

Thad Matta (2004-2007): 81-22

Chris Holtmann (2017-2020): 66-34

Tournament record in first three seasons:

Thad Matta: 6-2

Chris Holtmann: 2-2

Conference record in first three seasons:

Thad Matta: 35-13

Chris Holtmann: 34-24

Record against Michigan in first three seasons (because why not):

Thad Matta: 6-0

Chris Holtmann: 3-2

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Okay, so it isn’t quite as close as we may have thought. A big part of the disparity between the two overall records is because of the 2006-2007 season, when Matta’s Buckeyes went 35-4 (.897) and lost in the National Championship game to Florida. Their 35 wins set a program record that still stands today.

But even if we ignore that phenomenal year, even Matta’s second season (2005-2006) was better than any of Holtmann’s first three years. The 2005 team went 26-6, won the Big Ten, and won one game in the NCAA tournament. While he has without question exceeded expectations, Holtmann’s best season to date was his first, when he and the Buckeyes went 25-9.

Both coaches experienced a season where they were left out of the NCAA tournament for reasons beyond their control. As previously stated, Matta’s 2004 team was unable to participate due to a self-imposed one-year ban. Holtmann’s 2019 Buckeyes were left out because COVID-19 cancelled the tournament altogether. With those seasons removed, Matta still holds a four-game edge over Holtmann in tournament victories, 6-2. Five of those wins came during the 2007 tournament, when Greg Oden devoured everything in his path on the way to the National Championship game.

Recruiting


Number of five-star commits in first three seasons:

Thad Matta: 3

Chris Holtmann: 0

Number of four-star commits in first three seasons:

Thad Matta: 5

Chris Holtmann: 7

Average class ranking (national):

Thad Matta: 21

Chris Holtmann: 22

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If you remove the historic 2006 recruiting class where Thad Matta somehow pulled Greg Oden, Daequan Cook, and Mike Conley all in, then Chris Holtmann’s recruiting has actually been superior to Matta’s, at least in the first three seasons.

Unfortunately, we can’t do that.

That 2006 class could be credited with returning Ohio State basketball to national prominence all by itself. Oden, Cook, and Conley, who played on the same AAU team in high school, more or less came as a packaged deal. All three were in top-30 players in the 2006 class, headlined by Oden, the No. 1 player in the class. Also in that group and often forgotten is David Lighty, who was the 33rd-ranked player in the 2006 class and went on to set the Ohio State record for total games played.

Matta’s first two recruiting classes did not even land in the top 40 nationally. Leftover talent from the O’Brien era, like Terence Dials and J.J. Sullinger, was great to step into (much like Holtmann having Bates-Diop on the roster in his first season), but Matta did not strike gold with recruiting until that 2006 class put the Buckeyes back on the map. Matta continued to recruit at a high level after this, but Ohio State will never have a freshman class like that again.

While it’s probably too soon to tell, Holtmann appears to have what it takes to become an even better recruiter than Matta was. Each of Holtmann’s first three recruiting classes have included at least two four-star recruits. Of those three classes, D.J. Carton was the highest-ranked recruit at No. 34 nationally, but he also pulled in two other top-50 recruits in that same class in E.J. Liddell and Alonzo Gaffney. Holtmann’s 2021 class may be his best so far (currently ranked No. 4 nationally), but because we are focusing on just the first three seasons, we won’t get into that.

The one thing that gives many Ohio State fans pause about Holtmann’s recruiting is the rate at which players are transferring out of the program. Bringing in talent is crucial, but does it even matter if they’re turning around and leaving less than a year later?

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Here is a list of all the players who have left the program since Chris Holtmann took over in 2017. Not all players listed here were originally his recruits.


Funderburk had some off-court and disciplinary troubles. Potter saw the writing on the wall with Wesson, who was a year younger than him, already having passed him on the depth chart. LeDee and Gaffney saw little playing time as freshmen, which may have influenced their decisions. Muhammad was a head-scratcher because he started 56 games in two seasons, therefore playing time could not have been the issue. Carton took a leave of absence to focus on mental health issues during his lone season and later chose to transfer, but months later also told his followers on Instagram that he was “forced out.” He did not specify who forced him out, allegedly.

The reasons are neither here nor there. While Holtmann’s recruiting has been impressive and consistent, it is not sustainable for half of the players who enter the program to also walk out shortly thereafter. Hopefully the trend does not continue, and these were unique cases. It is certainly something to keep an eye on, though.

Ruling


Record: Major edge to Matta

Recruiting: Slight edge to Holtmann

Overall: Edge Matta

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Photo courtesy of Associated Press

There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it, Thad Matta was dominant basically his entire time at Ohio State, and it started from day one. Before breaking down the numbers, I thought the two would be much closer during the span of their first three years in Columbus, respectively.

But it isn’t even close.

Thad Matta made it to a National Championship game within three years and put together a recruiting class that wasn’t just the best in Ohio State history, but one of the greatest of all-time. He set a program record for wins in a single season, and won nearly 75% of his conference games in those first three years.

What makes this even more impressive is that right now I feel great about where Ohio State’s basketball program is. Chris Holtmann and his staff have done a fantastic job so far, and I hope they call Columbus home for many years to come. Holtmann took a stagnant program and made them relevant. He took a program that so many people were calling a sleeping giant and woke it up. AND he beat North Carolina by 25 in Chapel Hill.

With all that considered, Matta was still head and shoulders above Holtmann during his first three seasons. That’s why Thad Matta’s name hangs in the rafters at the Schottenstein Center. And that is why when you talk about the greatest coaches in Big Ten history, you have no choice but to put Thad up there with the greats.

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LGHL Sleepers of the Room: Ohio State’s wide receiver room is even deeper than you think

Sleepers of the Room: Ohio State’s wide receiver room is even deeper than you think
Gene Ross
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes have a few diamonds in the rough that could make a big impact this season

Ohio State has no shortage of depth at wide receiver this year. With the Buckeyes bringing back their leading receiver from last season in Chris Olave, a superstar in the making in Garrett Wilson, as well as a litany of five-star and otherwise talented freshmen now joining the roster, Brian Hartline should have no problem with his unit in 2020.

However, we’ve already taken a detailed look into just who is going to lead this productive group this year in our Leaders of the Room series. This time around, we are going to dig a little deeper. You know Olave, Wilson, and the highly-touted trio of freshman in Julian Fleming, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Gee Scott Jr. Even someone like Jameson Williams, who didn’t play a whole bunch last year, is a guy many expect to see a much bigger role this season.

Most teams would be elated to have six legitimate starting-caliber wide receivers on their roster, but at Ohio State the talent does not stop there. There are at least three other players in this year’s unit who could come out of nowhere and make a significant impact.

The first is someone you’ve probably heard discussed a bunch this offseason: Kamryn Babb. The third-year wideout came to Columbus as a four-star prospect and the No. 73 player in the country in the 2018 class. Unfortunately for Babb, knee injuries forced him to miss his first two seasons on campus. Heading into the 2020 campaign, the 6-foot, 197-pound receiver looks like he is finally healthy, and is ready to make his much anticipated Buckeye debut.

The coaches have raved about Babb’s attitude as he’s battled through injury, and he was named one of the team’s most improved players during winter workouts. The Missouri native put together a monster junior campaign before tearing his ACL ahead of his senior year of high school, catching 41 passes for 902 yards and 10 TDs at Christian Brothers College High School.

“It’s tough, because one, he’s such a great guy.” said Hartline back in March 2019. “You want guys to earn things, but he’s attacked it the right way whether it be the weight room or academics and studying and being in my hip, and he really is a great young man from a great family,”

If Babb can finally stay healthy — and that is a rather large “if” given his numerous serious knee injuries — he could make a serious impact this season catching passes from Justin Fields. It will be an uphill climb with all of the guys ahead of him on the current depth chart, but at 100%, Babb is talented enough to force his way onto the field.

Another guy that has gotten lost in the shuffle of the Ohio State receiver room is Jaylen Harris. Now a senior, Harris has had a largely forgettable first three years in Columbus. He has caught just five passes for 54 yards in his career to this point, and has been passed by on the depth chart by players like Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor and most recently Garrett Wilson.

However, this season Harris has a real shot to make an impact. With Wilson likely moving to the slot, that puts him right in the middle of the competition to start at the other outside spot opposite Olave. Having practiced with the first team offense before COVID shut down spring practices, the 6-foot-5 wideout could be a great compliment to Williams, with Harris being their high-point big-bodied target and Williams more in the Parris Campbell speed mold.

There also still remains the possibility of Demario McCall’s long-awaited breakout year. Although currently listed on the depth chart as a running back, I'm not sure McCall fits well with either unit, really being more of the now mostly extinct H-back position that was a favorite of Urban Meyer. McCall is in his fifth year with the program, so if he is going to make an impact at some point in his Ohio State career, it has to be right now.

The 5-foot-9 speedster has shown flashes of potential, but has not yet been able to earn any regular playing time. It will not get any easier to see the field now with all the options around him, but maybe Ryan Day will find some way to utilize McCall’s skillset this season. Buckeye fans have been rooting for McCall to make it big ever since he first stepped foot on campus, and maybe those dreams will finally come to reality in 2020.

Ohio State likes to play its wide receivers in a rotation, which makes it a bit easier for guys like Babb, Harris and McCall to get their fair share of opportunities. The Buckeyes currently have some incredible depth at the position, and if any of these three guys are able to step up and become an important part of this year’s roster, it will only make the offense all that much more dangerous.

The last thing the rest of the college football world wants to see is Ryan Day with even more weapons.

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LGHL Ohio State virtually visits with four-star small forward

Ohio State virtually visits with four-star small forward
Dan Hessler
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes reportedly played virtual host to a 2022 basketball prospect

Chris Holtmann and the Basketball Buckeyes have shown no signs of slowing down when it comes to recruiting despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ohio State recently added its newest commitment when the No. 1 recruit in Ohio, Malaki Branham, became the third member of its 2021 recruiting class. The addition boosted the Buckeyes to the No. 4 team in the 247Sports Recruiting Rankings.

However, Holtmann and the Buckeyes coaching staff are not solely focusing on the 2021 class. Over the weekend, it was reported that the team virtually met with 2022 small forward Trae Clayton (DeSoto, TX/Waxahachie Faith Family Academy).


Top-100 sophomore Trae Clayton is expected to virtually meet with Ohio State’s staff along with Memphis’ today, he told @Stockrisers.

Already holds offers from Texas and Nebraska, with many others interested. (FREE): https://t.co/zUOFqhdcUc pic.twitter.com/zn3euBRK2c

— Jake (@jakeweingarten) August 2, 2020

Despite just two seasons of high school ball under his belt, Clayton already holds scholarship offers from multiple schools, including Nebraska, Texas, TCU and others. The Buckeyes have not yet offered the 6-foot-5 hooper, but that could change following the recent virtual meeting.

Clayton would make for an excellent addition alongside three-star Ohio State SG commit, Bowen Hardman.

Ohio State has some groundwork to make up here, especially if it is serious about getting him to commit further from home than some of the more local schools that have already offered the Texas native. However, in his short time leading the helm of the basketball Buckeyes, Holtmann has proven to be just as good virtually recruiting as he is the more traditional way.

Clayton is the No. 22 SF in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and the No. 100 overall prospect in the 2022 class.

Future Buckeyes listed in MaxPreps top recruits list


MaxPreps recently released a list of the top high school football player from each state, and future Buckeyes were littered throughout. Below are the Ohio State commits representing the Scarlet and Gray as the top recruit in their perspective state:

Four-star CB Jakailin Johnson


Class: 2021
Hometown: Saint Louis, MO/DeSmet
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star DE Jack Sawyer


Class: 2021
Hometown: Pickerington, OH/Pickerington North
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star QB Kyle McCord


Class: 2021
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA/St. Joseph’s
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star RB TreVeyon Henderson


Class: 2021
Hometown: Hopewell, VA/Hopewell
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star WR Emeka Egbuka


Class: 2021
Hometown: Stellacoom, WA/Stellacoom
Recruitment Status: has Ohio State among top schools

Quick Hits:


Thank You For Everything North Gwinnett ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xIeqrzjYW2

— jordan hancock (@jordanhancock_7) August 3, 2020
  • Late Monday night, Ohio State sent out a scholarship offer to five-star athlete Keon Sabb. The 6-foot-3 New Jersey native is the No. 1 athlete in the 2022 class, and the No. 8 player in the cycle overall. Already holding over 28 offers this early in the game, Sabb is clearly a highly sought after prospect. He projects as a defensive back at the next level, and so Kerry Coombs will likely look to work his magic in this recruitment.

Continue reading...

LGHL Buckeye Bits: Ohio State commit Jordan Hancock sitting out his senior season, no fans in...

Buckeye Bits: Ohio State commit Jordan Hancock sitting out his senior season, no fans in the Shoe, more
Tia Johnston
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


i9eqEhVQ_400x400.0.jpg
Twitter via @jordanhancock_7
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

I am happy to report that there’s finally...a lot to report! Things are happening in the sports-world, and there will likely be even bigger news coming later this week when the Big Ten announces its plans for the 2020 season. Until then, keep scrolling for everything you may have missed over the weekend, including some updates on a few of Ohio State’s biggest 2021 commits, the newest plans for fans in the stands, the Pac-12 players’ ultimatum and more.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...


Column: Why Notre Dame needs the ACC to save its own brand

Meredith Hein, LGHL

In her column this week, Meredith talks all things marketing (which happens to be her day job), including the decline of Notre Dame’s brand over the years. What was once one of the most powerful brands in all of sports, The Fighting Irish have lost significant brand equity in recent years, now living in the shadows of the likes of Ohio State, Alabama, USC, Texas and Oklahoma.

Meredith attributes many reasons to the demise of ND’s brand— the main one being the fact that they’re the odd one out of college football, which has been made especially obvious due to this year’s conference-only scheduling in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notre Dame has opted to play in the ACC this year, and if they were to remain in the conference indefinitely, Meredith notes that it would give them the opportunity to regain some brand equity by reaching a new audience and by winning some conference titles.

Sleepers of the Room: Don’t count Gunnar Hoak out for the backup job

Tia Johnston, LGHL

Ohio State’s quarterback room is full of talent this season. With Justin Fields at the helm and a freshman duo in CJ Stroud and Jack Miller battling each other for the starting job next season, it’s easy to overlook the other QB in the room— Gunnar Hoak, who will likely be playing many a fourth quarter this season.

Ohio State offers Georgia commit over the weekend

Gene Ross, LGHL

Lots of recruiting updates in this morning’s State Secrets, including Ohio State’s latest offer to a 2023 athlete, a commitment from the nation’s No. 2 OLB and the five recruits who could be next to commit.

From around the gridiron...


State order prohibits fans at Ohio State, Bengals, Browns games

Garrett Stepien, Bucknuts

A new order was signed in Ohio on Aug. 1, which allows sports to continue...sans fans. This applies to the state’s NFL and college football teams, and will remain the case until Gov. DeWine’s state of emergency is no longer in effect.

*pretends to be shocked*


Looming questions as Buckeyes, Big Ten face critical-decisions week

Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

We’ve heard from just about every other Power Five conference regarding their schedules and plans for the upcoming season....except the Big Ten. The B1G’s commissioner, Kevin Warren, hinted that the league would announce on Wednesday whether or not teams can start full practices on Friday (Aug 7) as originally planned, which means it will also need provide the teams with some type of schedule and glimpse into their plans.

Austin lists some other questions that we should get answers to this week, including: Will any Ohio State players opt out? And how will Ryan Day tweak practice schedules/training groups?


Ohio State commit Jordan Hancock sitting out 2020 season

Steve Wiltfong, 247Sports

2021 cornerback Jordan Hancock will not be playing his senior season of high school football. Both of his parents are at-risk individuals, and Hancock wants to limit his face-to-face contact with other people so as not to bring home the virus. He has already informed Day of his decision.

Hancock is the No. 4 cornerback and No. 40 prospect overall in the 2021 class.


TreVeyon Henderson, Evan Pryor Named to SI All-American Top-10 List at Running Back

Adam Prescott, BuckeyesNow

A pair of future Ohio State running backs were selected to the Sports Illustrated All-American Watch List Top 10. TreVeyon Henderson tops the list and Evan Pryor is No. 4.

Henderson is the No. 1 running back in the 2021 class and Pryor is the No. 2 all purpose back.


Everything that makes Ohio State QB Justin Fields an ideal Heisman Trophy candidate: Buckeye Take

Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com

Well for starters, he was a Heisman Trophy candidate last season so....

Lesmerises names a few more valid reasons why the stud Buckeye QB will likely be in the running for the trophy again this season, including the edge he has over Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, and how he compares to past Heisman winners.


OSU staffer Justin Perez creates GoFundMe for son with cancer

Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

The Ohio State Assistant Director of Player Personnel, Justin Perez, learned this summer that his six-year-old son, Peyton, has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a blood and bone marrow cancer that affects the white blood cells. The Perez family is now facing more than three years of chemotherapy and hospitalizations for their son.

If you can, please consider donating to their GoFundMe page, where they hope to raise $40,000 to help cover the cost of Peyton’s treatments. You can do so here.


Trey Sermon doubles up.



View this post on Instagram


Double up

A post shared by Trey Sermon (@treyera4) on Jul 31, 2020 at 4:36pm PDT

Ohio State running back Trey Sermon—who wore No. 4 during his three years at Oklahoma—will wear No. 8 as a Buckeye.

From everywhere else...


Let’s check in on the PAC 12.


This is perhaps a watershed moment in college sports. PAC 12 football players are threatening to boycott the season unless their civil rights demands are met, including:

1. COVID protections
2. revenue sharing for athletes
3. guaranteed scholarshipshttps://t.co/QUVaitr2lH

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 2, 2020

Over the weekend, a group of Pac-12 football players from multiple schools put a letter in The Players’ Tribune threatening to opt out of fall camp and the 2020 college football season unless a list of demands were met by the conference. The demands included in that list (among many others) are as follows:

  1. Better health and safety precautions, such as allowing players not to play during the pandemic without losing athletics eligibility or their spot on the roster
  2. Conference commissioner Larry Scott, administrators, and coaches to voluntarily and drastically reduce excessive pay in order to help preserve existing sports.
  3. End racial injustice in college sports and society. Players want to form a permanent civic-engagement task force made up of our leaders and experts of their choice to address outstanding issues when it comes to racism.
  4. Guaranteed medical expense coverage for sports-related medical conditions, including COVID-19 illness, to cover six years after college athletics eligibility ends.
  5. Fair market pay, rights, and freedoms, including the right to earn money from their name, image and likeness

PAC-12 athletes have said that #WeAreUnited. The demands are simple but revolutionary.

Sign the petition in the bio to help the future generation of athletes. pic.twitter.com/WRKSzLmI6d

— We Are United (@NCAAUnited) August 3, 2020

The group is reported to include hundreds of Pac 12 football players, and while the group realizes that many of these demands will take time to negotiate, the coronavirus-related asks remain the top priority for the group.

In my personal opinion, all of this stuff should have been done a long time ago, and while most of these demands will likely not be granted, I’m happy to see college athletes discovering the power they have over the coaches/directors/commissioners/administrators who profit off of their talents.


Report: Washington State players who support Pac-12 movement ‘released from team’

John Taylor, NBC Sports

Gotta agree with the first sentence in this article: “This is not a good look for Washington State or first-year head football coach Nick Rolovich. At all.”


I just got off the phone with John Woods, the father of #WSU WR Kassidy Woods, who says Kassidy was told to clean out his locker tomorrow. Woods is technically still on scholarship, but was "released" from the team yesterday, his father says.

— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) August 2, 2020

During our phone call, Kassidy Woods' father, John, paraphrased what #WSU coach Nick Rolovich told his son. pic.twitter.com/thwp2ZRUQt

— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) August 2, 2020

Am told multiple other #WSU players who shared the "#WeAreUnited" graphics have been released from the team, as well. https://t.co/OA0Hg3aroo

— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) August 2, 2020

According to Taylor, Washington State has not addressed these claims, nor have they even attempted to clarify the allegations which, quite frankly, tells us (and recruits) all we need to know about Rolovich.


Jashon Cornell signs rookie deal with Detroit Lions

Jaylon Thompson, 247Sports

Good news! Former Ohio State defensive tackle Jashon Cornell agreed to his rookie deal with the Detroit Lions after being selected as a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Cornell recorded 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last season with Buckeyes.


Bad news! Steelers released J.T. Barrett.


J.T. Barrett waived by the Steelers. https://t.co/Ag0n8ELa1p

— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) August 2, 2020

The Steelers waived the former Buckeye quarterback, along with seven other players on Sunday. Barrett signed to the Steelers’ practice squad last Dec. 24, then signed to a reserve/futures contract six days later.

The Steelers were Barrett’s third NFL organization in his first two seasons.


Odell is skeptical.


Beckham is not expected to opt out of the 2020 season, despite his comments which were from an interview conducted before he reported to training camp and saw the team's facilities. https://t.co/DTDLakZCk6

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 3, 2020

The Pac 12 players aren’t the only ones speaking out about their discomfort playing football this season. In fact, Cleveland Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. told The Wall Street Journal that he wouldn’t mind not having a season at all. However, it was later reported that his comments were made before seeing the Browns’ facilities and the safety precautions they’ve put in place, and Beckham is now not expected to opt out.

Continue reading...

LGHL Column: Why Notre Dame needs the ACC to save its own brand

Column: Why Notre Dame needs the ACC to save its own brand
Meredith Hein
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_13844601.0.jpg
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
A decline in brand equity means a necessary shift in strategy.

The concept of sports franchises and teams as brands has been bubbling subtly under the surface of many of the conversations surrounding sports this summer, both in light of COVID-19 and systemic racism in the U.S. Obviously it’s not of primary, secondary or even tertiary concern, but it is interesting to consider how this underlying and oft unrecognizable brand loyalty has worked against progressing toward a better future in sports.

The most obvious example was the conversation surrounding the Washington Football Team’s (formerly Redskins’) long-overdue name change this summer. How many people did you hear say “they’ve always been the Redskins. What’s the big deal?” What these folks are really saying is they identify with a brand and branding that’s remained static almost since its founding — at least when it comes to naming, logo and traditions.

Then there’s the consideration of no fans in stadiums. Yeah, that’s a huge bummer for a lot of reasons (so wear your masks, people), but there’s also the subtle component of fanbases contributing to sports brands, and how maybe a less-than-full Ohio Stadium wouldn’t feel like an Ohio State game at all. There’s a reason the NBA invested in building a digital fan base for its return to basketball bubble.

I could go on for hours. Really, I could: My day job is in marketing. The discussion around branding in sports is fascinating, in particular because of the brand loyalty it evokes. Consider the fire that comes to each of your bellies when you see a fellow Ohio State fan in Disney World (not now, obviously) or the irrational rage you feel when you witness someone in maize and blue with the AUDACITY to be walking down High Street.

Which obviously begs the question: Where is the brand equity for these teams built? For Ohio State, we have visuals and associations that build symbolism. For example, as an Ohio State fan, what do you associate the colors “scarlet and gray” with? How do you feel about a man with a giant light-and-dark brown nut for a head? Is “horseshoe” a game or a place? These parts have been drilled into our conscience for years by watching the Buckeyes play on TV, living in Columbus and seeing flags everywhere, and going to Graeter’s and getting Buckeye Blitz ice cream, ultimately building the aforementioned associations.

These components also build loyalty and a community around that loyalty, because brands can be badges you use to express yourself (looking at you, Apple people). You might think you are just wearing your Woody Hayes classic black Ohio State hat because it looks cool, but you’re also linking back to the symbolism it expresses and projecting that as an indication of who you are.

Which brings us to why this topic is interesting and relevant now. If we were to build a Mount Rushmore of college football brands, there is a limited set of the 130 FBS teams who would even be marked for consideration for inclusion in those coveted spots. My personal bias aside, few could argue against including Ohio State as one of those brands (my Michigan fan husband agrees). Alabama surely tops the list in the SEC, while USC, Texas and Oklahoma also have strong arguments in their favor. Schools like Florida, Michigan, Clemson, Miami, Florida State, Nebraska and a slew of others are firmly on that second tier.

Because I know I’m ruffling a lot of feathers, I want to clarify that when I’m talking about a “brand” in this sense, I’m not actually talking about who is good and bad at football. I’m talking about those associations I mentioned earlier - the recognition, for example, of a Michigan fan from a mile away because of that distinct and horrid color scheme, or of a Browns fan for an equally distinct yet warm, kind and inviting palate (am I being biased here?), or of Nebraska’s block N, Florida’s gator or the longhorn logo of Texas. For the teams mentioned above, those associations are strong to the point that particular shades of blue and yellow - just colors on a palate - suddenly mean something when put together.

Back to the topic at hand. You’ll notice there is a notable absence from the top tier; a team so fiercely independent and yet so inconsequential that it’s managed to fall from grace.

Yep. It’s Notre Dame.

Once among the most powerful brands in sports, Notre Dame has lost significant brand equity in recent years. We could cite the decline of the influence of the Catholic church in the U.S. as a factor in reducing the reach of the historically Catholic university as a brand. Contributing to the decline in reach, and the crux of this column, is also the fact Notre Dame remained and, after 2020, could return to being an independent. In fact, the Fighting Irish have built their brand equity on being so inherently sought after and worthwhile that they were above being part of a mere conference like these other mere mortal football programs.

So how has this brand impacted the Fighting Irish on the field?

Ohio State doesn’t win a national championship every year, but it sure as heck vies for and wins most conference championships in the Big Ten. Teams in the Power-5 are similar, in that even if they don’t win the Playoff, which only one team can win in a given season, they have chances to win conferences or divisions or boast conference players of the year.

A real area where these banners have impact is in recruiting. The consideration set for recruits isn’t limited to CFP teams, but for top recruits, it is often limited to those schools who compete year in and year out to win something - like a conference title. That’s why Ohio State crushes Michigan in recruiting every year. That’s why James Franklin has Penn State creeping up the recruiting rankings in recent years.

Notre Dame? Not in the top 10 in recruiting. In fact, Notre Dame hasn’t had a higher than 10th-ranked recruiting class since 2013 (fifth) — the year after the Irish’s embarrassing loss to Bama in the BCS title game.

Notre Dame recruits like the third or fourth best team in the Big Ten. In fact, if they were in the Big Ten, they would have been in fourth place, just ahead of Nebraska, in 2020. When you’re not getting the talent to play for a national title and you don’t have any conference banners to hang your hat on, the recruiting pitch tends to fall back on history. The problem with that strategy is that Notre Dame’s most recent national title was in 1988. Their most recent Heisman winner (Tim Brown) won the trophy in 1987.

Of course, the Irish football team is not helped by the stringent academic standards which might keep out a four- or five-star recruit — one who would otherwise attend Ohio State or Michigan.

There’s also an impact of this independence on scheduling. Unlike Power-5 teams, who are something of known entities and whose schedules can be generally racked and stacked by the end of a given season, Notre Dame remains a mystery. The Irish boast of their standing rivalries - USC, Navy, Stanford - and their other scheduling nuances which pit the Irish against many Power-5 schools year in and year out, but the fact is that teams like Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State have to play teams like Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State for nine weeks of the year. (Maybe even 10! We’ll see how this season goes I guess). It’s not hard to recognize that, on the whole, Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama and any other Power-5 team that wins its conference has played a more challenging schedule than the hodge-podge Notre Dame puts forth every season.

This equity, built on independence, on panache, on being the top destination for recruits in the midwest, has not kept up with the times. The rest of college football consolidated, leaving the Fighting Irish on the outskirts. The squeaky wheel lost a lot of what credibility it had remaining when it fell to Clemson in the CFP in 2018.

You’ll notice that, at the outset, I said that the brand wasn’t about who was good and who was bad at football, but that those points are what I’m arguing have been the downfall of Notre Dame. For comparison, consider Nebraska: another great college football brand who was also last good decades ago. Nebraska was sitting in a floundering Big 12 conference before shifting to the Big Ten, building a new market of rivals (cough, Iowa) and growing its brand recognition to a new region of the country. Nebraska hasn’t won any more national titles, but the Huskers made an appearance in a Big Ten Championship game and have continued to extend their brand rather than losing equity by remaining in the Big 12.

It took a global pandemic that threatened the college football season for Notre Dame to recognize the financial disaster awaiting its programs. While other conferences quickly made the jump to conference-only seasons, the Fighting Irish became the odd team out. Even the service academies, with two independents in Army and Navy, were guaranteed a couple games in 2020.

If it chose to remain in the ACC, Notre Dame would have the opportunity to regain some brand equity by reaching a new base and possibly even by winning some games and conference titles. But they’d have to rethink the fundamentals of what’s built their equity - since being a fiercely independent being is what led to its shrinking influence in the first place.

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LGHL Sleepers of the Room: Don’t count Gunnar Hoak out for the backup job

Sleepers of the Room: Don’t count Gunnar Hoak out for the backup job
Tia Johnston
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


1188094448.jpg.0.jpg
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Experience and seniority gives the redshirt senior an edge in the backup QB battle

Now that we’ve addressed the leaders of each group on Ohio State’s roster, it’s time to take a look at the guys that just might surprise us this season—the guys who tend to fly under the radar, but carry immense potential.

To begin, we’ll start with one of the most reputable and, arguably, one of the most important positions on the roster: The Backup Quarterback.

As Buckeye fans, we know all too well the impact a backup quarterback can have on a game, hell, an entire season. I probably don’t have to remind you of the 2014 quarterback saga, but I’ll give you the SparksNotes version just in case. Backup quarterback J.T. Barrett became the team’s starter in the blink of an eye after Braxton Miller suffered a season-ending injury eight days before the first game. A few months later, Barrett went down early in the fourth quarter of the Michigan game, leaving the rest of Ohio State’s national championship run in the hands of their third-string QB, Cardale Jones. You know the rest.

Then there’s the infamous Kenny Guiton, who did the impossible against Purdue in 2012 after Miller was carted off the field. Guiton had to go 61 yards for the touchdown AND get the two-point conversion to tie the game, all within 47 seconds. He did just that, and then went on to win the game in overtime.

And most recently, when Barrett injured his knee (again) during the third quarter against Michigan in 2017, it was redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins who took over, completing six of his seven pass attempts for 94 yards, and making his case for the starting job the following season.

However, last season is when I think we all really felt the importance of having a reliable backup QB. Justin Fields went down in the third quarter against Michigan (I think it’s safe to assume Ohio State will probably need their backup in the second half of every Michigan game) after aggravating a sprained MCL injury. Sure, he was out for all of three minutes, but for those long (so...so long) three minutes, the fate of Ohio State’s season fell right into Chris Chugonov’s lap. In that moment, we all prayed for a Guiton/Barrett/Jones/Haskins performance to occur.

I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t exactly confident in Chugonov’s ability to lead us through the playoffs, but then again I was pretty skeptical about Jones, too. While Chug never got the chance to prove us all wrong, the lesson to be learned is this: Ohio State should have a damn good QB2 ready to go every. single. year.

And luckily, we just might have that this fall, as this season’s quarterback room is the deepest it’s been in quite sometime. Lined up behind Fields is redshirt senior Gunnar Hoak, and the highly acclaimed freshmen, CJ Stroud and Jack Miller.

Stroud and Miller have certainly been the headline grabbers since they arrived in Columbus in January. Not only are they each battling Hoak for the backup job, but they’re also in the mix to become Field’s successor in 2021.

Stroud was a five-star, No. 41 overall prospect and No. 2 pro-style QB in his class. He threw for nearly 6,500 yards in 35 games at Rancho Cucamonga, Cali., completing just under 63 percent of his passes with 70 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, earning him Elite 11 MVP honors.

Miller was a four-star recruit who, due to injury, dropped to No. 334 overall during his final year of high school. Miller threw for just under 9,500 yards in 38 games at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. He completed over 56 percent of his passes and totaled 115 touchdowns with 31 interceptions.

So yeah, they deserve all the hype, and I make the argument as to why one of them could easily snag the QB2 spot at some point in the season here.

But if Fields goes down early in the season, I don’t think it’s Stroud’s or Miller’s name Ryan Day will be calling— not when there’s another guy on the list who’s had a full year to study the playbook, along with four years of experience in the Power Five.

Hoak — a Dublin, Ohio-native and the only other returning scholarship quarterback besides Fields — spent three years at Kentucky before graduate transferring to Ohio State last summer. Hoak served as Ohio State’s third-string quarterback behind Fields and Chugunov last season, and took advantage of every opportunity he was given. He completed all six of his pass attempts for 104 yards and one touchdown.

Before they were cancelled, this year’s spring practices were supposed to serve as the big stage for Hoak, allowing him to show off his experience and understanding of the playbook—something he has over Stroud and Miller. However one could also say that the lack of in-person practices gives Hoak somewhat of an edge in the backup battle. Sure, he could have benefited from spring practice, but as freshmen, those reps are even more crucial for Stroud and Miller to get acclimated to the increased speed and intensity of the college game.

Now, as game one approaches, the two freshmen have spent minimal time with their coaches and teammates, having to learn most of the playbook virtually, while Hoak is well-versed in the system, is accustomed to the college game, has practiced with most of the receiving unit already and is without question the most reliable option on the depth chart right now.

Maybe as the season progresses, Stroud or Miller get in the swing of things and inch their way past Hoak, but it’s always hard to look past the veteran. As Hoak is approaching his final year of college eligibility, it could be his most important one yet.

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LGHL Ohio State offers Georgia commit over the weekend

Ohio State offers Georgia commit over the weekend
Gene Ross
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Trinity Christian Academy athlete Treyaun Webb | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
Catching you up with the latest Buckeye recruiting news from the past few days

Ryan Day and the rest of the Ohio State staff are making sure the team stays loaded with talent for years to come. Still looking to close out the 2021 class strong and finish with the No. 1 group in the nation, the Buckeyes have been hard at work scouting talent in both the 2022 and 2023 cycles. Recruiting never stops, and at a powerhouse program like the one that resides in Columbus, you must always be a step ahead of the competition to remain at the top.

On Saturday, the team sent out its latest offer to a member of the 2023 class, reaching out to Georgia commit Treyaun Webb. The Florida native announced the offer via his Twitter page.


WOW !!!!! #AGTG Blessed And Honored To Have Received An Offer From THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY #GoBuckeyes @CoachTonyAlford pic.twitter.com/ubrhFJatxV

— Treyaun Webb (@w_treyaun) August 1, 2020

Webb, an athlete out of Trinity Christian Academy, has been committed to the Bulldogs since November of last year. The 6-foot, 188-pound standout now holds over 36 different offers from nearly all of the nation’s top programs, including the likes of Alabama, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, Penn State and obviously Georgia. With his primary recruiter being Tony Alford, the Buckeyes likely see him as a running back at the next level.

Ohio State has been busy early on in the 2023 class when it comes to the talent-rich Florida area. According to 247Sports, the Buckeyes currently have eight offers out in the cycle, and five of those are from the Sunshine State. In addition to Webb, the program has offered a trio of Florida offensive tackles in Payton Kirkland, TJ Shanahan, and Clay Wedin in addition to defensive end Derrick LeBlanc.

Ratings for the 2023 have not yet been released, so we will have to wait and see where these guys stack up with the rest of the class. However, you know if Ohio State is offering players that are currently high school sophomores, they will likely be pretty high up the list.

Quick Hits

  • On Sunday, Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts dropped a list of five recruits he thinks could be the next to commit to Ohio State, regardless of current class standing. At the top of the list was 2022 linebacker Dasan McCullough. The nation’s No. 7 athlete and No. 69 player overall, McCullough has flirted with the Buckeyes for quite a while now, and just this past Thursday received a Crystal Ball to OSU from 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong with a confidence of seven.

Here he is reacting to the commitment of Gabe Powers on Saturday:


boom

— Dasan Mccullough ¹✊ (@Dasan2022) August 1, 2020
  • Oh yea, in case you somehow missed it, Ohio State got a commitment from the nation’s No. 2 OLB on Saturday. Powers, the No. 1 player in Ohio in 2022, chose the Buckeyes out of 18 different scholarship offers, including Kentucky, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and others. Powers’ commitment, the fourth in the class, gave OSU the No. 2 group in the cycle thus far, trailing only LSU (who has five total commits).

All glory to God @BuckeyeEdits15 pic.twitter.com/QnxK5QztiJ

— Gabe_powers21 (@GabePowers21) August 1, 2020
  • A big reason for Ohio State’s early success in 2022? Look no further than C.J. Hicks, who has taken on the role as “Captain Buckeye” in his relentless pursuit of adding talent to his class. Between Hicks’ efforts in 2022 and TreVeyon Henderson’s in 2021, Ryan Day’s job gets just a little bit easier as his recruits continue to do work on the trail themselves.

#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Qo5LEf8nOe

— C.Hicks♛ (@imcjhicks) August 2, 2020

Continue reading...

LGHL BOOOOM! 2022 four-star OLB Gabe Powers commits to Ohio State

BOOOOM! 2022 four-star OLB Gabe Powers commits to Ohio State
Gene Ross
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo via @GabePowers21 on Twitter
The Buckeyes added the nation’s No. 2 OLB on Saturday.

The one potential flaw in the absolutely loaded 2021 recruiting class is the lack of depth at the linebacker spot. It’s hard to find much to complain about in terms of the nation’s No. 1 class, but especially with all three of the current starting linebackers graduating at the end of the season, Day and position coach Al Washington knew that linebacker would be a big need looking ahead to 2022.

They’ve now addressed that need in a huge way already, as 2022 four-star OLB Gabe Powers committed to Ohio State on Saturday. Powers, an incredibly important in-state prospect as the No. 1 player in Ohio, is the No. 2 OLB in the country and the No. 45 player overall according to the 247Sports Composite.


All glory to God @BuckeyeEdits15 pic.twitter.com/QnxK5QztiJ

— Gabe_powers21 (@GabePowers21) August 1, 2020

Powers was raised in a football family, with his father Mike a member of the Marysville staff and a former college football player himself. A middle linebacker prior to his sophomore year, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound athlete played outside linebacker this past season, compiling 90 tackles for the Monarchs. Powers has trained with a pair of former Buckeyes this offseason, both with Olympic gold medal sprinter Butch Reynolds and former OSU corner Donald Washington.

Powers has long been linked to Ohio State, with all six of his Crystal Ball predictions having been in favor of OSU. Two of these predictions rolled in late Friday night with the announcement that Powers would be making his decision on Saturday, and just this past Thursday 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong upgraded the confidence of his prediction from a six to a 10.

Holding over 18 scholarship offers, the Buckeyes beat out some of the nation’s top programs, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford and USC. Powers had previously wanted to take his official visits before coming to a decision, but came to the conclusion that he already knew where he wanted to go, so there was no reason to wait any further. He attended two Ohio State games last season, appearing in The Shoe for their wins over Michigan State and Penn State.

Powers is the fourth member of Ohio State’s 2022 class, and the highest-rated of the bunch. He joins a trio of other four-star prospects in corner Jyaire Brown, fellow OLB C.J. Hicks, and offensive tackle Tegra Tshabola. Between Powers and Hicks, who is the No. 8 OLB in the cycle, the Buckeyes are off to a phenomenal start in their quest to sign what will likely be either three or four linebackers next year.

Most impressively, Ryan Day has now been able to haul in four of the top five players from the state of Ohio in 2022 — after getting five of the top six guys in 2021. Did I mention it’s only August? The now second-year head coach has made in-state recruiting a priority early on in his tenure, and so far it is paying dividends. With Powers’ commitment, Ohio State has gotten the top player in Ohio for the fourth consecutive cycle.

Check out these highlights of the newest future Buckeye in action this past season:

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2021 MI DL Damon Payne (Alabama Verbal)

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PAYNE’S FAMILY CONFUSED BY MICHIGAN’S SILENCE

In Michigan, there seems to be a major disconnect between in-state players and the Wolverines coaching staff.

That’s even more under the spotlight following Rainer Sabin’s story in the Detroit Free Press that detailed the mystery a lack of communication between the Michigan coaches and Damon Payne, the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan who is a five-star prospect ranked No. 1 at defensive tackle and No. 14 overall.

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Payne committed to Alabama in July, but Michigan seems to have pulled itself out of the race, writes Sabin:

Bewilderment is detected in his voice. Disappointment is heard, too. Over the phone, Damon Payne Sr. recalled how the Michigan football program he has always rooted for suddenly stopped recruiting his son, the gifted five-star defensive tackle and newly minted Alabama commitment, Damon Jr.

“I don’t know what happened. I have no idea,” he said. “If you can dig and investigate and find out why, let me know.”

More from Sabin’s report:

“It sounds weird. I totally get it,” he said. “As a parent, me and my wife and my son haven’t heard from them. I can’t go into detail and say why.”

He just simply doesn’t have an explanation. But Payne Sr. wondered if it may have had something to do with the tense relationship that has developed between his son’s coach at Belleville High School, Jermain Crowell, and Michigan. Based on his own experience, Payne said Crowell never tried to steer him away from the Wolverines.

“He never discouraged us or any other kids, ‘Don’t go to Michigan,’” Payne Sr. said. “I haven’t witnessed ill-will toward Michigan from him.”

The Wolverines have the luxury of having one of the best cycles the state has ever produced, with five players ranked in the top 80 overall.

If they can land Rocco Spindler on Saturday, and if they can land Donovan Edwards, that will go a monumental way to getting them back into being competitive against Ohio State. Until that happens, The Game could be a mismatch for the foreseeable future.
This recruitment is a clear example of why scUM is so far from OSU as a football program. No way would Meyer or Day not put up a fight trying to land the top player in OH, regardless of the relationship with the coach, you find a way to mend that or have an assistant try and mend it. I couldn't fathom giving up recruiting a kid lime Jack Sawyer and letting a team like Bama get him. Inexcusable, but ill enjoy the continued domination
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NCAA Will Give Spring Sports Athletes Another Year Of Eligibility

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Power 5 Leaders Exploring Possibility of Staging Their Own Fall Sports Championships

The NCAA Board of Governors is expected to decide the fate of fall sports championships—except for FBS football—on Tuesday.

In anticipation of the NCAA Board of Governors potentially canceling or postponing fall sports championships, Power 5 conference leaders have begun exploring the possibility of staging their own championships in those affected sports, multiple sources have told Sports Illustrated. This could be seen as a first step toward a long-theorized breakaway from the NCAA by the 65 schools that play college sports at the highest level.

The Board of Governors, comprised primarily of university presidents and chancellors from all levels of the NCAA, has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday. At that time it is expected to make a decision on the fate of fall sports championships other than FBS football, which has a championship outside the NCAA structure. However, the board also could delay action until later in August.
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New roof, who dis?

Not certain what kind of roofing is popular in PA, but would suggest you not go with a 'gypo' roofer. Whomever you select, make certain you see their liability/workers comp insurance certificate. Without one, and someone takes a tumble off your roof, you're holding the proverbial 'bag' for medical costs. Here in Cali (in Valley), we have 50+ daily swings in temperature. A composit shingle lasts 35 years, with no worries. Very water tight as well. Good luck.
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My Lunch Sammich (FIFY)

I just ate a very delicious and simple PB&J for lunch after a couple days of turkey/cheddar/ketchup.

But you know what, I feel like I need to expand my lunch sandwich boundaries.

Anyone have any unique combinations to explore? Blow my mind.

$350 PB&J on Menu at Upcoming West Loop Restaurant

The center of attention is the over-the-top $350 “Golden Goose” that has to be ordered at least a day in advance. It’s an entire loaf of toasted bread made with edible gold leaf and layered with Maison Dutriez Red Currant Jam; it’s the most expensive jelly in the world, de-seeded by hand with goose quills. The peanut butter is Adams All-Natural, and it’s affordable retailing for around $5 per jar. It’s then drizzled with Manuka Honey, an ingredient native to New Zealand. They’ll also offer PB&Js in loaf form — the sandwiches are reassembled inside a bag, presented to diners, then sliced open table side.

Entire article: https://chicago.eater.com/2020/6/25...jukebox-restaurant-bar-west-loop-chicago-menu

Who is up for a $350 peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I'm NOT buying......:biggrin:
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Senior Bowl

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SENIOR BOWL STEPPING UP? If there's no college football season this fall, it's going to make it extremely hard for NFL scouts to evaluate this year's crop of draft-eligible players, given that they'll be no games to attend and no new film to watch.

If that happens, the Senior Bowl might have a plan to help with that process.

Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy told Yahoo Sports he’s open to having a Senior Bowl buildup that lasts up to two-and-a-half weeks if there’s no college football this season. That would both help players acclimate to playing after extended time off and give the NFL personnel a bigger window to both evaluate the prospects as players and people.

The lack of campus visits would likely mean canned information given to scouts over Zoom, as opposed to more candid in-person conversations. Nagy said he’s also considered going to the NFL and asking that all players who’ve declared for the draft – not just seniors or graduated juniors – be eligible for the Senior Bowl.

Nagy, a former NFL scout, was more conservative about the numbers of players who would opt out of the college season.

“There’s only a small handful for guys who can rest on their junior tape,” he said. "It would be a small, small handful. The scary part for me is where are the kids getting the information, that’s the hardest part of the whole process, getting credible information.”

That last bit is what I keep going back to – nobody is particularly stoked about this situation. Pretty much everybody involved would much, much prefer to play the season as close to normal as possible. So I'm not giving up hope, because too many people are fighting too hard to try to make a season work.
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LGHL Ohio State makes 2022 tight end’s top three

Ohio State makes 2022 tight end’s top three
Tia Johnston
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
Plus, a 2021 offensive guard’s commitment date is approaching.

As Gene predicted yesterday, Bennett Christian — the No. 18 tight end in the class of 2022 and No. 26 player out of the state of Georgia — has announced his top three schools.


Unsurprisingly, Ohio State made the cut, along with Penn State and Tennessee.

Christian has already visited Penn State and Tennessee, and said he plans on visiting Ohio State once the pandemic subsides.

“Ohio State is one of my top schools,” Christian told Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts. “Every week I talk to coach (Kevin) Wilson or coach (Tim) Hinton. I call coach Wilson each week.”

As Gene notes, Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day’s uneventful 2021 TE recruiting has them planning ahead for 2022. Christian is one of four 2022 tight ends that have received an offer from Ohio State. The No. 1 TE in the class, Donovan Green, also holds an offer from the Buckeyes, along with the No. 4 TE, Holden Staes, and Benji Gosnell, who is ranked No. 10 at the position, according to 247Sports.


The No. 3 offensive guard in the class of 2021, Rocco Spindler, is set to announce his commitment live on CBS Sports HQ on Saturday, August 8 at 6 p.m. ET.


Tune in August 8th❗pic.twitter.com/aCjL8miJ2H

— Rocco Spindler (@RoccoSpindler92) July 29, 2020

The four star from Clarkston (Mich.) will be choosing between Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan and LSU, with the Wolverines and Fighting Irish as the most likely candidates. Not only is he in close contact with both school’s offensive line coaches, but, according to Allen Trieu of Bucknuts, Spindler has developed close relationships with both school’s recruiting classes as well.

The 247Sports Crystal Ball has four predictions each for Notre Dame and Michigan, however the Irish have a higher confidence level.

“Education… that’s number one, top priority,” Spindler told The Michigan Insider when asked about what he seeks in a program. “Development; who am I going to be developed by the best to get me a shot the NFL? The brotherhood aspect… I want to be part of a great family. And networking... that’s a great thing as well because I want to get jobs after I’m done playing football and know a lot of great people. And just biggest thing for me is who’s going to take care of me after football ends? And, of course a national championship would be awesome as well.

Spindler is the No. 3 prospect in the state of Michigan and No. 48 prospect overall.

Quick Hits

  • On Wednesday, Ohio State offered 2023 offensive tackle Payton Kirkland. The Buckeyes are just the latest in what is now a whopping 25 total offers for the Florida native, which includes some of the nation’s top program’s among the likes of Auburn, Georgia, Florida, and Penn State. Kirkland, whose mother grew up a Buckeye fan, does not yet have a rating on 247Sports, but expect him to be one of the region’s top prospects when those ratings are released.

#AGTG I am truly blown away that I have an opportunity to announce that I have earned an ⭕️ffer from THE Ohio State University! #GoBuckeyes @CoachTonyAlford @CertifiedDawgAG @trenchmenAC @coachleggins pic.twitter.com/lMrL8nApr2

— Payton”PKAY“Kirkland (@paytonkirk55) July 29, 2020
  • Kirkland wasn’t the only big name to see an Ohio State offer come his way on Wednesday, as the program also offered 2023 defensive end Derrick LeBlanc. The Buckeyes were the latest team to throw their hat in the ring for the elite edge rusher, who now holds at least 37 offers from top schools like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, and a ton of others. Like the rest of his 2023 counterparts, LeBlanc is not yet rated on 247Sports.

Blessed and humble to receive a scholarship from THEE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ❤️ @DemetricDWarren @ChadSimmons_ @CoachTonyAlford @R2X_Rushmen1 @ryandaytime @FootballKowboy pic.twitter.com/8eRUcen7Z4

— Derrick Leblanc ‍♂️ (@getrightderrick) July 29, 2020
  • Zack Carpenter of Eleven Warriors reported that Ohio State’s 2021 five-star defensive end commit Jack Sawyer’s rehab for his MCL tear is “going phenomenal” and that he is “way ahead of schedule.” The No. 3 player in the class even went so far as to say that he feels better than he ever has in his life.
  • In Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts’ latest edition of his “Top 10 prospects from the Ohio class of 2022”, Marysville linebacker Gabe Powers continues his reign at the top of the list. Powers is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Ohio, and the No. 2 outside linebacker in the country. He has four 247Sports Crystal Balls for Ohio State (100%). Powers’ college decision may be coming sooner rather than later, if you read into the latest tweet from OSU recruiting extraordinaire C.J. Hicks:

Who ready for another boom???#BIA

— C.Hicks♛ (@imcjhicks) July 30, 2020

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LGHL Buckeye Bits: Joey Bosa gets $135 million contract extension, the NBA bubble actually...

Buckeye Bits: Joey Bosa gets $135 million contract extension, the NBA bubble actually works, more
Tia Johnston
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Another day, another news cycle filled with COVID-19 updates, former Ohio State players getting paid, corny Clemson players, and panic about the possibility (or lack thereof) of a college football season. I have all that and more for you in today’s Buckeye Bits, but first, another PSA from Ohio State Athletics, who are quite literally begging fans to wear a mask.


These seasons depend on YOU=

⚽⛳️ ‍♂️

We like sports - YOU like sports!

| #IWantASeason

pic.twitter.com/VCwjiBrQ1c

— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) July 29, 2020

If you’re reading this article, I assume you like sports and, therefore, I assume you would also like a season. So....#MaskUp. Now, onto today’s headlines.


From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

Paul Bixler, OSU’s Mr. Inconsistent as head coach

Jim Baird, LGHL

Next up in our “24 Club” series, Jim tells the story of Paul Bixner, who coached the Buckeyes for exactly one season in 1946 before his team suffered a 52-point loss against Michigan— the worst defeat for any OSU team against the Wolverines in Columbus.

Even in the 1940s, Ohio State would not tolerate a head coach who loses to Michigan by that big of a deficit. On a completely unrelated note, Jim Harbaugh is approaching his sixth season as head coach of Michigan.


Which former Ohio State safety would you want back in Columbus?

Me, LGHL

Malik Hooker. Next.


Ohio State 2022 tight end target could be nearing a decision

Gene Ross, LGHL

Ryan Day and tight ends coach Kevin Wilson have made a great impression on the No. 18 tight end in the 2022 class. The Georgia-native tweeted that he had “big news coming soon”, and told Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts that Ohio State is “one of his top three schools.”

(Update to Gene’s article: Bennett Christian announced his top three. Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee)

From around the gridiron...


Gov. DeWine: Too early to know Ohio State football’s 20 percent capacity plan is safe during COVID-19

Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com

On Tuesday, Ohio State announced that Ohio Stadium will be at “no more than 20 percent” capacity this fall (which is obviously subject to change before the season begins), however shortly after the announcement, Gov. DeWine held a press conference where he said he was not aware of this plan, and that it’s still too early to know if 20 percent capacity is doable.


Five Ohio State freshmen who can make special teams impact

Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

The guys who stand out on special teams one year, usually find themselves a solidified spot on offense or defense the next year. Holbrook predicts which true freshmen will make the biggest impact on special teams this season, thus getting a head start on their position battles.


Swapping Justin Fields — Would the Ohio State QB beat the Buckeyes if he played for other teams? Buckeye Talk Podcast

Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland.com

On their Buckeye Talk podcast, Cleveland.com’s Lesmerises and Nathan Baird answer the horrific question: What if Justin Fields played for another team? If he played for Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin or Georgia, could they beat the Buckeyes? In other words, just how valuable is a starting quarterback and how does the rest of the offense’s talent impact his performance?


Kyle McCord’s accuracy stands out at QB Collective event

Steve Wiltfong, Bucknuts

Ohio State five-star quarterback 2021 commit Kyle McCord took part in the QB Collective event over the weekend in Indianapolis. A former NFL signal-caller said that “his strength is going to be his accuracy,” and another QB collective coach added that McCord was “one of the prettiest throwers.”


CBS Sports hot-seat rankings: Where Big Ten coaches stand

Brad Crawford, Bucknuts

Ryan Day is not on the hot seat, per CBS Sports.


Same, Jeff.


I’ll never forgive those referees https://t.co/57aLDADmGq

— Jeff Okudah (@jeffokudah) July 28, 2020

Clemson’s TikTok is a disgrace to the sport of college football, as were the referees on the night of December 28, 2019.

From everywhere else...


Joey Bosa just became the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player.


The Chargers and DE Joey Bosa have reached an agreement on a 5-year, $135 million extension that ties him to LA the next six years, per @AdamSchefter.

$102M guaranteed - a new NFL defensive record. pic.twitter.com/HxL1v4ji5Y

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 29, 2020

Bosa and the Chargers have agreed to a $135 million contract extension that includes $78 million fully guaranteed at signing and $102 million in total guarantees, which are both NFL records for a defensive player. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Bosa is now the highest-paid former Buckeye in the NFL, surpassing Michael Thomas, who signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with the Saints a year ago.


One of the greatest collections of talent in college football history continues to get in the pros.

Chargers DE Joey Bosa: 5 years, $135 million.
Saints WR Michael Thomas: 5 years, $96.25 million.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott: 6 years, $90 million.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 29, 2020

Attention recruits! You play for Ohio State, you get paid. It’s as simple as that.


Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa join Ohio State football alums on NFL’s Top 100 for 2020 list

Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Nick Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott and Joey Bosa (not a bad day for Joey) were named to the NFL’s Top 100 for 2020 list, ranking No. 17, No. 24 and No. 34, respectively. They join Marshon Lattimore (No. 76) and Cameron Heyward (No. 84) who were announced earlier this week.

The top 10 players will be revealed at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday on NFL Network.


I think it’s time we take our College Football Island idea a little more seriously...


Sources: Zero NBA players have tested positive for coronavirus out of 344 tested at Orlando campus since last results were announced July 20.

Consecutive testing rounds where no new player has tested positive.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 29, 2020

The bubble impact on sports:
NBA: 0 positive tests since July 13th
NHL: 0 positive tests in 4,256 administered in 7-day span July 18th-25th
MLS: 0 positive tests in last nine major rounds of testing
NWSL: 0 positive tests during its entire tournament

Huge.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 29, 2020

Meanwhile, another Miami Marlins player tested positive for COVID-19 today, bringing their total to 18 reported positive cases!

The MLB is not playing in a bubble.

CFB and the NFL will likely not play in a bubble.

You do the math.

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LGHL Paul Bixler, OSU’s Mr. Inconsistent as head coach

Paul Bixler, OSU’s Mr. Inconsistent as head coach
Jim Baird
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Bixler’s short tenure featured some big wins — and one of the worst losses to Michigan in the history of the program.

There have been 24 head coaches in the history of Ohio State football. Each has a story and legacy. This offseason, Land-Grant Holy Land’s new series 24 Club will help you get to know the coaches from past and present who built the program. Today we look at Ohio State’s 17th head coach — Paul Bixler, who lead the program to big wins and even bigger losses.


Name: Paul Bixler
Seasons Coached: One (1946)
Overall Record: 4-3-2

Where Does He Rank in the 24 Club?
Overall Wins: No. 22 out of 24 OSU Coaches
Winning Percentage: No. 20 out of 24 OSU Coaches


Entering the 1946 season, Ohio State played its own version of musical chairs. After two winning seasons, OSU coach Carroll Widdoes stepped down and remained on staff as an assistant. Paul Bixler, who had been an assistant for Widdoes, took over as head coach.

Bixler lasted a single season in his new role. The team’s inconsistent play was his downfall. Ohio State shut out USC 21-0 in Los Angeles, and bested No. 6 Northwestern in Evanston. However, losses to Illinois and Wisconsin along with draws against a mediocre Missouri team and a bad Purdue squad turned up the heat on the new coach.

Unfortunately, Bixler’s seat went from warm to a couple of degrees hotter than the surface of the sun after the Wolverines came to town to end the season. Michigan bested Ohio State 58-6 in Columbus. The 52 point loss remains the worst defeat for any OSU team against the Wolverines in Columbus. Ohio State finished the year with a 4-3-2 record, and Bixler stepped aside.

In six seasons from 1941-1946, the Buckeyes had said hello and goodbye to three head coaches — Paul Brown, Carroll Widdoes and now Paul Bixler. Ohio State needed coaching stability. The search for the perfect fit continued.

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